Director's Message
Welcome to the Wick Poetry Center. As the long summer draws to an end and the new semester begins, I would like to welcome new and returning students, faculty, staff, and friends of the Wick Poetry Center back to Kent State University.
We are anticipating some exciting events this fall, beginning September 11 with Celebrating Our Own, a reading by our 2012 scholarship winners. The Wick Poetry Center awards over $30,000 a year in tuition scholarships, and we are thrilled to kick off our annual Reading Series with a celebration of these young poets.
On Wednesday, October 10, we will welcome distinguished poet Edward Hirsch and Carolyn Creedon at 7:30 p.m. in the Kiva Auditorium. Hirsch selected Creedon’s book, Wet, as the winner of the 2011 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize. In addition to the reading, Creedon will be on campus throughout the week participating in discussions and leading a student poetry workshop.
Tuesday, October 30, we will host a reading by Ruth Schwartz, author of five books of poetry and recipient of numerous awards including two Pablo Neruda prizes, the Associated Writing Programs Award, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, and the Astraea Foundation. The reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. in room 306 ABC of the Kent State Student Center. We hope you can attend what will surely be a memorable evening.
And don’t forget that between August 31 and October 31 we accept submissions for the Wick Chapbook Competition for Ohio Poets. We accept manuscripts in two categories: the Open Competition for Ohio residents and the Student Competition for individuals enrolled in institutions of higher learning. Please visit our website for complete submission guidelines, including a link to our online submission manager.
We are looking forward to an exciting fall semester, and I hope to see old and new friends at all of our readings and events.
In peace and poetry,
David Hassler
Director, Wick Poetry Center
In 1984 Robert Wick, a sculptor and former art department faculty member at Kent State University, and his brother, Walter Wick, established what is today known as the Wick Poetry Center in memory of their sons Stan (1962-1980) and Tom (1956-1973).